SÓLARLJÓÐ – THE SONG OF THE SUN

The Song of the Sun is traditionally thought of as a Christian visionary poem with certain pagan aspects. In reality the pagan aspects are very strong, and we must suspect that the only reason this is not widely recognized is because the pagan aspects focus on feminine pagan entities. It is basically a poem about the experience of dying – and of the hereafter. In this fragmented version I offer my own translations of the stanzas that refer to pagan concepts. 11. Sáttir þeir váru United they were,Sváfuðr ok Skartheðinn, Sleep Wave and Abundance Heath Dwellerhvárgi mátti annars án vera, The one could not be without the otherfyrr enn þeir œddusk until they were driven to frenzyfyr einni konu: over a woman:hon var þeim til lýta lagin she was created for their downfall12. Hvárskis þeir gáðu They cared no longerfyr þá Hvítu Mey, on account of the Bright Maidenleiks né ljósra daga; for games nor happy daysǫngvan hlut no other thingmáttu þeir annan muna could they pay attention toen þat ljósa lík. than her illuminated shape.15. Ofmetnað drýgja skyldi engi maðr, No man should entertain hubrisþat hefik sannliga sét; I have in truth seenþví at þeir hverfa, en hánum fylgja, that those who follow Her,flestir guði frá for the most part turn from God25. Dísir bið þú þér Ask you the goddesses to your aiddróttins mála they who are of the speech of the Rulervera hollar í hugum; to be benevolent to you in intentviku eptir for a week aftermun þér vilja þíns all shall pass according to your willalt at óskum ganga all shall pass as you wish37.Heljar reip The ropes of Helkómu harðliga came tightly sveigð at síðum mér; bound around my sidesslíta ek vilda, I wanted to tear themen þau seig váru; but they were very hardlétt er lauss at fara It is easy to go free.38. Einn ek vissa, I alone knewhversu alla vega how on all sides sullu sútir mér; my pains increasedHeljar Meyar The Maidens of Heler mér hrolla buðu to my horror, invited meheim á hverju kveldi to their home, each evening39.Sól ek sá I saw the Sunsanna Dagstjǫrnu true Star of Daydrúpa dynheimumí; sink into her roaring homeen Heljar grind and by the Gate of Helheyrða ek á annan veg I heard, from the other sideþjóta þungliga. A heavy creaking.40. Sól ek sá I saw the Sunsetta dreyrstǫfum, beset with blood beamsmjǫk var ek þá ór heimi hallr; I was fast declining from the halls of the worldmáttug hon leizk she seemed more powerfulá marga vegu in many waysfrá því er fyrri var. than she had been before.41. Sól ek sá, I saw the Sunsvá þótti mér, and it seemed to mesem ek sæja gǫfgan guð; that I was seeing a glorious deity;henni ek laut to her I bowedhinzta sinni for one last timealdaheimi í. in this world of time 42. Sól ek sá, I saw the Sunsvá hon geislaði, she beamed so splendidlyat ek þóttumk vætki vita; that I thought myself to know nothingen Gylfar straumar and the streams of the river of Helgrenjuðu á annan veg, roared from the other sideblandnir mjǫk við blóð blended much with blood43. Sól ek sá I saw the Suná sjónum skjálfandi, with quivering eyeshræzlufullr okhnipinn; appalled and shrinkingþvíat hjarta mitt because my heart var heldr mjǫk was to a great degreerunnit sundr í sega torn apart in languor44. Sól ek sá I saw the Sun sjaldan hryggvari, and was seldom saddermjǫk var ek þá ór heimi hallr; I was now far from the halls of the worldtunga mín my tonguevar til trés metin, had turned into woodok kólnat alt fyr utan. and all around me was cold.45. Sól ek sá I saw the Sunsíðan aldregi and then never againeptir þann dapra dag, after that gloomy dayþvíat fjallavǫtn luktusk for the waters of the mountain fyr mér saman, closed around meen ek hvarf kallaðr frá kvǫl and I was called from my pains.46. Vánarstjarna flaug, The Star of Hope flewþá var ek fœddr, when I was bornbrot frá brjósti mér; cut out from my chesthátt at hon fló, she soared highhvergi settisk, never settledsvá at hon mætti hvíld hafa so that she might have found peace.51. Á norna stóli In the Seat of the Nornirsat ek níu daga, I sat for nine daysþaðan var ek á hest hafinn; then I was placed on a horseGýgjar Sól The Sun of the Giantesser skein grimmliga shone in disguiseór skýdrúpnis skýjum through the dripping clouds of the sky55. Sólar hjǫrt The Hart of the Sunleit ek sunnan fara, I saw arrive from the Southhann teymðu tveir saman; he was led by two togetherfœtr hans stóðu foldu á, his feet stood planted on Earthen tóku horn til himins his horns spread into Heaven56. Norðan sá ek ríða From the North I saw ridingNiðja sonu, the sons of Belowok váru sjau saman; and they were seven togetherhornum fullum from brimming full hornsdrukku þeir hinn hreina mjǫð they drank the pure meadór brunni Baugregins from the Well of the Lord of the Ring76. Bjúgvǫr ok Listvǫr Bow Spring and Wisdom Springsitja í Herðis dyrum guard the doors of Army Goddessorgans stóli á; from the Bellower Seat (death)járna dreyri iron bloodfellr ór nǫsum þeim, fall from their nostrilssá vekr fjón með fyrðum this kindles hatred among men77. Óðins kván Óðin`s womanrœr á Jarðar skipi, rows the ship of Earthmóðug á munað; she is bound towards pleasureseglum hennar her sailsverðr síð hlaðit, are reefed lateþeim er á þráreipum þruma they are hung with the ropes of desire78. Arfi! faðir Son! As your fathereinn þér ráðit hefi, I have counseled you,ok þeir Sólkǫtlu synir, as have the sons of Sun Cauldron Woman,hjartar horn, towards the Horn of the Heartþat er ór haugi bar that he brought from the death-moundhinn vitri Vígdvalinn that wise Hibernation of War79. Hér ’ru rúnar, Here are runeser ristit hafa that have been carvedNjarðar dœtr níu: by the nine daughters of Njǫrðr :Ráðveig hin elzta Counsel Power Drink the oldestok Kreppvǫr hin yngsta Approaching Spring the youngestok þeirra systr sjau and their seven sisters.

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